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Learn About Institutional Research

Definitions of Institutional Research

A very good description of institutional research is found on the website of the Australasian Association for Institutional Research. It states:

Institutional Research is the planning, coordination, collection, organization, compiling and dissemination of information concerning the characteristics and performance of the institution. The purpose of Institutional Research is to provide objective, systematic and thorough research that supports the institution's enrollment goals, planning, policy formation and decision making.

Other definitions and descriptions of institutional research come from Joe Saupe and Pat Terenzini.

Saupe (1990) declared, “The institutional researcher serves higher education and, in turn, his institution through critical appraisal and careful investigation of its processes and programs . . . .Institutional research is research conducted within an institution of higher education to provide information which supports institutional planning, policy formation and decision making.”

Terenzini (1999) observed that defining institutional research can be problematic because as institutional researchers react to evolving “state and federal policy decisions, the changing student clientele, advances in computing and telecommunications, the shifting budgetary climate, the growing internationalization of higher education, the increasing complexity and sophistication of decision making, and the growing number and volume of calls for increased institutional effectiveness.”

A Graphic Representation of Institutional Research Tasks

Clarion’s Director of Institutional Research studied under Fred Volkwein at Penn State. Dr. Volkwein highlighted institutional research tasks in a class that the Director took from his this way:

Clarion’s Director of Institutional Research View of Institutional Research

Clarion’s Director of Institutional Research believes successful institutional researchers need to work collaboratively with faculty, students and staff; to have a broad skill set, a solid grounding in higher education theories; the ability to design and execute high-level research studies; possess a strong intellectual curiosity to work on a broad variety of diverse issues with a variety of stakeholders; are well read on current higher education topics, and are adaptable, flexible, driven, and committed to providing campus officials with solid analyses that will ultimately improve institutional processes to the benefit of all students, faculty, and administrators. In short, the duty of successful and competent institutional researchers is to provide officials with brick foundations with which solid decisions are built upon and to make informed recommendations of their analyses to campus leaders when asked to do so.

Sources Cited

Australasian Association for Institutional Research

Saupe, J.L. (1990). The Functions of Institutional Research, 2nd Edition. Tallahassee, FL: Association for Institutional Research.

Terenzini, P.T. (1999). On the Nature of Institutional Research, pp. 21-29. In: What is institutional research all about? A critical and comprehensive assessment of the profession.” J.F. Volkwein, ed. New Directions for Institutional Research, no. 104, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.